The Sioux City Explorers scored eight runs between the 2nd and 4th innings and cruised to an 8-0 victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs at Lewis and Clark Park on Monday night.
2,370 fans watched as Todd Eaton earned the win relieving injured X’s starter Kurt Heyer. Leuris Gomez was charged with the loss for the Saltdogs as he surrendered seven runs (six earned) off of eight hits in three innings pitched.
The scoring started in the 2nd inning. Nate Samson notched his first of three hits in the game by starting off the frame with a single. The X’s next to batters also singled to set up Dylan Kelly who hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game. Then, Nick Flair hit into what looked like a double play, but second baseman Cesar Valera past Curt Smith at first base to allow one more run to score.
Things unraveled for the Saltdogs and Gomez in the bottom of the 3rd. The Explorers tallied three hits and two walks to push across four runs. They scored two more in the bottom of the 4th.
The Saltdogs moved runners to scoring position in four innings but weren’t able to get the critical hit. Smith, though, had a fantastic hitting day, rocketing one double and two singles.
Dimitri Kourtis, Zac Person and J.R. Bunda combined to surrender just one run in five innings of relief.
The teams have a short turnaround as tomorrow’s first pitch is at 11:05 AM. Seth Webster makes his American Association debut for the Saltdogs against Hobbs Johnson of Sioux City. Coverage begins at 10:35 AM on ESPN 1480 and saltdogs.com.